What was the rule of thumb for soldiers in Vietnam?
The rule of thumb that ten soldiers were needed to defeat one guerrilla reflected the insurgents” political support rather than their military superiority. For the Saigon government, the task of isolating the Viet Cong from the population was difficult under any circumstances and impossible to achieve by force alone.
What is a tunnel rat in Vietnam?
Tunnel rats were usually soldiers who were physically small—able to fit inside the tight spaces of the Viet Cong tunnels. They traveled light, carrying only a pistol, a knife and a flashlight.
Why did soldiers write on their helmets in Vietnam?
As one might imagine, it was considered counter to good order and discipline to write on one’s helmet cover. The helmet was for the soldier, after all, a uniform item provided by the government. To deface it meant defacing government property while at the same time violating the rules of wearing the uniform properly.
How many tunnel rats died in Vietnam?
That both sets of men had to endure this life is appalling. There were never more than 100 Tunnel Rats in country at any one time and around 700 in total. There were 36 killed and 200 wounded.
Why did search and destroy fail in Vietnam?
Search and Destroy missions were often based on poor military intelligence. The brutal tactics used by US troops often drove more Vietnamese civilians to support the Vietcong. The My Lai Massacre severely damaged America’s reputation and undermined support for the war at home.
What is a sapper in Vietnam?
Surprise attacks by elite Communist units known as sappers were one of the most serious—and feared—threats to Americans in Vietnam. Under an umbrella of NVA mortar fire, the sappers raced through the compound tossing gas grenades and canvas satchels loaded with explosives.
Why do soldiers tap their magazines on their helmet?
Tapping the magazine either against your helmet or any hard surface ensures that the rounds are seated correctly especially the top round. By doing this the soldier lessens the chance of a feed stoppage preventing the weapon functioning correctly.
Do soldiers write their blood type on their boots?
Some have it tattood on them, others write it on their kit. The current fashion is to have it on a velcro patch with your zap number, rank and maybe a flag or unit TRF attached to body armour etc. All very Gucci and warry. Military guys put their blood group on all sorts of things.
What were the odds of surviving Vietnam?
According to the book Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War, approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War. About 1.8\% were killed in action (KIA) or 18 out of every 1000. About 5.6\% were seriously wounded and survived or 56 out of every 1000.
Was bombing in Vietnam successful?
Over 7.5 million tons of bombs were dropped by the US and its allied nations during the Vietnam War. Several factors ensured that the US strategic bombing of Vietnam was not more successful, ranging from the very geography of the region to the immense backing North Vietnam received from the Soviet Union and China.
How did the men who served in Vietnam differ from previous wars?
The men who served in Vietnam also tended to be younger than the U.S. soldiers who had fought in previous wars. The average age of American troops in Vietnam was nineteen, compared to an average age of twenty-six for U.S. soldiers in World War II (1939–45). During most of the Vietnam War,…
What was it like being an American soldier in Vietnam?
The American Soldier in Vietnam 1 The draft 2 A “working-class war” 3 The combat soldier’s experience in Vietnam 4 Hours of boredom and seconds of terror 5 U.S. soldiers’ feelings about the Vietnamese 6 Atrocities 7 Decline in U.S. morale and performance 8 Desertions, fraggings, and drug use 9 Strained race relations 10 Sources
How many drafted men avoided service in Vietnam?
About 60 percent, or 16 million, of these draftable men avoided service in legal ways. Of the 40 percent that did serve in the military in the late 1960s and early 1970s, only about 2.5 million went to Vietnam. The rest remained in the United States or served on bases in Europe.
How did the military use helicopters in the Vietnam War?
Flying by safely in their helicopters, men like Battalion Commander Terry Allen pressured the enlisted men on the ground to move more quickly and kill more of their foes.